McCain hails O'Brien as his Man of the moment

Perth success for O'Brien

CONDITIONAL jockey Paul O'Brien was beaming from ear to ear after riding his first winner under Rules on the Donald McCain-trained Mulligan's Man at Perth.

The 20-year-old Cork-born rider joined McCain earlier this year and having enjoyed his first ride in a bumper a few weeks ago, was given the opportunity to partner 1/2 favourite Mulligan's Man in the opening Better Prices On Betfair Mobile Novices' Hurdle in Scotland.

"Paul came to me in February having been recommended to me by someone in Ireland and he's a good lad who works hard," said McCain.

"He has plenty of point-to-point experience and he rides this horse every day, so it was ideal to let him ride with the double penalty and it's worked out grand."

McCain completed a double as 5/2 shot Indepub claimed the Check Betfair Before You Bet Juvenile Hurdle.

Third Half was the odds-on favourite, but Jason Maguire (pictured) got his fractions spot-on from the front and Indepub out-sprinted his opponent to wrest the spoils by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

It was an excellent afternoon for Maguire, who notched his 50th winner of the season on Gordon Elliott's Esporao (4/5 favourite) in the claimer and followed up on Definite All Star (7/2) for the same yard in the novices' handicap chase, before completing his hat-trick.

Elliott also left one of his favourite haunts with a treble after Tony McCoy guided the gambled-on 13/8 favourite Bondage to land the Bet With The Dewhurst Ring Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.